Islamic Converts Had “Jihadist” Materials
Following up on the story we noted Monday, two Islamic converts recently arrested for suspicion of robbery in Los Angeles not only had a list of military sites—they also had possible plans to attack synagogues and the Israeli Consulate, and possessed undisclosed “jihadist” materials: Two Men’s Ties to Group of Extremists Investigated. (Hat tip: SoCalJustice.)
Counterterrorism officials are investigating the possibility that two men recently arrested in a string of South Bay gas station robberies may have been part of a local group of extremists with ties to prison or street gangs, local and federal law enforcement authorities said Thursday.
Although there is no evidence of a specific terrorist plot, law enforcement officials say materials recovered at the South Los Angeles apartment of one robbery suspect, Levar Haney Washington, 25, suggest that an attack might have been planned at any of nearly two dozen addresses, including National Guard recruiting facilities, two synagogues and a building believed to be the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles.
During an extensive search of Washington’s apartment last week, authorities said they found no explosives or bomb-making materials, but did recover some bulletproof vests and undisclosed “jihadist” materials not readily available via the Internet or other public sources, as well as the list of addresses that appeared to be unlikely targets for a simple robbery.Washington, a Rollin’ 60s gang member who was convicted in Orange County in 1999 of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and belonging to a street gang, converted to Islam in prison. His alleged accomplice, Gregory Vernon Patterson, 21, who has no criminal record, is believed to be a more recent convert.